Ribbon inking machine



pli 15, 1941. `v v PEAKS 2,238,282

RIBBON INKING MACHINE Filed may 1o, 1939 Patented Apr. 15, 1941 RIBBON MACHINE Vernon J. Peaks, Aurora, Ill., assignor of one-half tol S. Eugene Miller, Aurora, Ill.

Application May 10, 1939, Serial No. 272,761

6 Claims.

The invention relates generally to inking machines, and more particularly to a machine for inking typewriter ribbons or the like.

The invention has among its objects the construction of a device for inking ribbons which may be adjusted for inking in any one of a plurality of colors or if desired, simultaneously inking in two pre-determined colo-rs.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a machine of the kind described having a plurality of inking units, each unit adapted to ink in a different color, and in which any one of the units mlay be easily and quickly brought into operative position.

Another object of the invention is the construction of such `a device which is very compact, durable and efficient for the purposes intended.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given. 4

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 represents a plan view of the device;

Fig. 2 is aside elevational view of the device with a portion of the base member broken away to show the details of construction, only one of the inking units being illustrated; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

It hasbeen customary in the past to ink typewriter ribbons and the like at the factory, subsequently shipping the packed ribbon to the distributors and dealers. Naturally, in the course of time, unused ribbons will deteriorate to a certain extent, and as a result thereof stocks must be replenished from time to time, and in the case of small dealers and the like, must be ordered in small quantities commensurate with the demand. With the present invention, a supply of uninked ribbon may be kept on hand, this ribbon being inked at the time it is sold, thereby insuring customers receiving a fresh ribbon and eliminating the necessity of keeping a large stock of ribbons of various colors. The present invention, therefore, readily adapts itself for use by small dealers, although it obviously is notV limited to such a use.

Referring now to the drawing, the device illustrated comprises a cylindrical container designated generally by the numeral I having a bottom 2, a side wall 3 and extending across the top a cover member 4. The cover member 4 yis pivotally carried on the center column 5, the latter having a flange E adjacent the upper end of the column upon which the cover 4 is supported. Radially mounted on the cover are a plurality of ribbon inking mechanisms designated generally by the numerals II, I2, I3, I4, I5, and I6. Mounted inside the cylindrical container I is a suitable driving source illustrated as an electric motor II having a driving shaft I8 extending therefrom. Pivo-'tally carried on the driving shaft |8 is a slotted armv I9, the free end of which extends outwardly from the side wall 3 of the container I. A spur gear 2| is rotatably carried in the slotted portion of the arm I9 by means of a shaft 22, the spur gear 2| engaging a driving pinion 23 mounted on the motor shaft I8. The ribbon inking mechanism II is shown in operative position. The spur gear 24 of the ribbon inking mechanism II extends below the cover member 4 as do similar gears on the other inking mechanisms. The gear 24, however, as sho-Wn, engages the gear 2|, thus operatively connecting the inking mechanism |I with the motor or other power unit. Each of the inking mechanisms comprises a pair of uprights 28 which journal a shaft 29 upon which is located the lower inking roller 3|. The roller 3| is positioned in the ink tray 32 which is provided with slots adapted to receive the shaft 29. The tray 32 is illustrated as resting on a block 33 which may be removed after which the tray may be dropped down below the shaft 29 and roller 3| and removed therefrom. The shaft 34 carrying the upper ink roller 35 is journaled in a pair of blocks 36, each slidable vertically in slots located in the respective uprights 3 I. The shaft 32 is driven through the spur gear 24 rigidly secured to the shaft at one end thereof. Rigidly secured to the opposite end of the shaft 32 is a small pinion 31 which engages and drives a similar pinion 38 secured to the adjacent end of the shaft 34. Compression springs 39 seat upon studs 4I which engage the respective blocks 36, thereby urging the blocks 36 downward to bring the rollers 33 and 34 in operative contact. The springs 39 may be placed under the desired compression by the respective thumb screws 42 thereby providing an adjustment of the rollers relative one another. Also secured to the shaft 34 is a pulley 43 which drives a suitable ribbon winding shaft 44, by means of the pulley 45 and belt 4B. Any suitable means may be employed for holding the Winding spool 4l on the shaft 44. Also carried by the uprights 3I is a small ribbon guide roll-er 48 and carried by the column 5 is a holder 49 adapted to carry a large spool of ribbon stock 5I.

In operation, the free end 52 of the ribbon passes around the pin 53 on the holder 49 over the roller 48 between the rollers 33 and 35 and up to the winding spool 4l, the lower roller 3I being positioned in the ink in tray 32 will carry the ink to the ribbon where the ink will penetrate the same. The belt 46 more or less loosely connects the pulleys 43 and 45 so that there may be slippage between the same. This is to make allowance for the fact that a fewer number of turns of the spool 41 are required when a` considerable amount of ribbon has been wound on the spool than when the spool is relatively empty.

Obviously, as the cover member 4 is rotatable, any one of the ribbon inking mechanisms I2, I3, I4, I5, or I5 may be rotated into the position occupied by the mechanism I I in the drawing. A pin 54 slidable in the side wall 3 as illustrated in Fig. 2 engages a recess or hole 55 in the cover member 4, thus securely holding the latter in place -to properly position the mechanism II in engagement with the gear 2 I. rIhe cover 4 has holes 55 similarly positioned therein adjacent each of the respective inking mechanisms whereby each mechanism may be locked in operative position. A stud 56 and spring 5l is positioned directly below the Y arm I9 and urges the latter upward, thus engaging the gears 2I and 24 simultaneously moving the locking pin 54 upward into the recess 55. If it is desired to use one of the other inking mechanisms, the projecting end I9' of the arm I9 is moved downwardly to disengage the gears and to release the looking pin 54, The cover member 4 is then rotated until the desired mechanism is in the position formerly occupied by the mechanism II. Upon releasing the arm I9, the spring 5l and stud 56 will return the arm to the position shown in Fig. 2 moving the pin 54 into the respective recesses 55 for that mechanism and again locking the cover member 4 in position and operatively connecting the inking mechanism with the il The various inking mechanisms are I3 is very similar to the others with the exception y that the ink tray is divided by a longitudinally extending partition 5d constructed of thin material and extending upwardly substantially to the shaft 32. The lower roller 33 in this case would be provided with a suitable central slot of a size to receive the partition. However, any other suitable means for simultaneously inking the ribbon in more than one color could be utilized. It might also be mentioned that a suitable ribbon measuring device could be incorporated in the machine so that the lengths of individual ribbons could be accurately determined.

It will be noted from the above description that I have provided a device capable of readily inlring a ribbon in any one of a plurality of various colors or if desired, in several colors, which device may be readily adjusted to accomplish these results and which is very compact, durable and emcient for the purposes intended.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a ribbon inling machine, the combination oi a container having side walls, a bottom and a cover, a power unit positioned in said container, a plurality of inking mechanisms carried by said cover on the top face thereof, each mechanism comprising a pair of uprights, a pair of inking rollers journaled in said uprights, means for urging one of said rollers in contact with the other roller, engaging gears secured to the shafts of the respective rollers, and a driving gear secured to one of the roller shafts, an arm pivotally mounted in said container, a gear operatively connected to said power unit carried by said arm, said cover being movable relative the container to position any one of said mechanisms in operative position relative said power unit, movement of said arm selectively engaging or disengaging the gear on said arm with the driving gear oi the adjacent positioned inking mechanism.

2. In a ribbon inking machine, the combination of a container having side walls, a bottom and a cover, a power unit positioned in said container, a plurality of inking mechanisms carried by said cover on the top face thereof, each mechanism comprising a pair of uprights, a pair of inking rollers journaled in said uprights, means for urging one of said rollers in contact with the other roller, engaging gears secured to the shafts of the respective rollers, and a driving gear secured to one of the roller shafts, an arm pivotally mounted in said container, a gear operatively connected to said power u nit carried by said arm, said cover being movable relative the container to position any one of said mechanisms in operative position relative said power unit, movement of said arm selectively engaging or disengaging the gear on said arm with the driving gear of the adjacent positioned inking mechanism, and means for releasably locking the cover to the remainder of the container.

3. In a ribbon infking machine, the combination of a container having side walls, a bottom and a cover, a power unit secured in said container, a plurality of inking mechanisms carried by said cover on the top face thereof, each mechanism comprising a pair of uprights, a pair of inking rollers journaled in said uprights, means for urging one of said rollers in contact with the other roller, engaging gears secured to the shafts of the respective rollers, a ribbon Winder driven from one of said shafts, and a driving gear secured to one of the roller shafts, an arm pivotally mounted in said container with a free end extending exteriorly therefrom to form a handle, a gear operatively connected to said power unit carried by said arm, a pin engageable with said handle and the cover, to look the latter to said container, said cover being movable relative the container to position any one of said mechanisms in operative position relative said power unit, movement of said arm selectively engaging or disengaging the gear on said arm with the driving gear of the adjacent positioned inking mechanism, and simultaneously respectively engaging or disengaging the pin and said cover.

4. In a ribbon inlzing machine, the combination of a container having side walls, a bottom and a cover, a plurality of inking mechanisms carried by said cover, each of said mechanisms having a driven gear, an arm movably mounted in said container, a driving gear carried by said arm, said cover being movable relative the container to position any one of said mechanisms in operative position relative said driving gear, said arm being operative to move said driving gear into and out of operative engagement with respect to the driven gear of the adjacent positioned inking mechanism.

5. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a supporting element having a plurality of inking mechanisms carried thereon, each of said mechanisms having a driven element, a member movably mounted relative said supporting element, a driving element carried by said member, said supporting element being movable relative said driving element to slectively position any one of said mechanisms in operative relation with respect thereto, said member being operative to move said driving element into and out of operative position with respect to the driven element of the adjacent inking mechanism.

6. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a supporting element having a plurality of inking mechanisms carried thereon, each of said mechanisms having a driven element, a member movably mounted relative said supporting element, a driving element carried by said member, said supporting element being movable relative said driving element to selectively position any one of said mechanisms in operative relation with respect thereto, said member being operative to move said driving element into and out of operative position with respect to the driven element of the adjacent inking mechanism, and means operable by said member for releasably locking said supporting element in fixed relation with respect to said driving element.

VERNON J. PEAKS. 

